6 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 BB, 24, 5'11", 185 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes. Holla.
The Athletics' train kept a-rollin' as Gio "Long Time" Gonzalez turned in a most masterful performance, with Michael Wuertz striking out the side in the 8th for an even 100 Ks on the season. Andrew "The Old" Bailey lowered the gavel on the punchless Angels in the 9th for his 26th (and 21st consecutive!!!!) save, so an ongoing A's rookie record, well, goes on. Rajai Davis continued hotter than the temperature of the core of the sun, squared, with a double to extend his career-high hit streak to a lucky 13.
This was a game that seemed to turn, at least in terms of scoring, on a pair of consecutive errors in the 7th. With Eric Patterson (who continued to tear it up with another couple of hits) on third after he singled, stole second, and took 3rd when catcher Jeff "Chances Are" Mathis' throw went into center field, Mathis attempted to atone with a snap pickoff attempt. Proving once again that two wrongs do not indeed make a right, it sailed down the LF line... Patterson scored for a 3-0 A's lead which they would not relinquish, drawing Oakland one step closer to the (now 7-1) finish we need to end at .500 for the tumultuous 2009 season, which I think we'd all agree would fookin' rawk.
Can't possibly say enough about Gio tonight, who showed a tasty slice of the promise that he has flashed throughout the year, and IMO assured himself of a mighty serious look for next year's rotation with this evening's activities. The A's are officially the hottest team in baseball now, with a 16-7 September mark and a brisk 15 out of 19 and 10 out of the last 12.
So I guess this means we'll see you all tomorrow night? I thought as much. Go 
!!!!!
0 recs | 48 comments
Damn its alright to be a gangsta!
lynnzgal - September 25, 2009
Too $hort is down.
Rated-R Superstar - September 25, 2009
Train kept a-rollin'
Oh yeah
doctorK - September 25, 2009
Great pic of Gio.
I really just love Gio. Especially when he pitches like this. Hooray for Gio!
whiteshoes40 - September 25, 2009
hot damn, great photo of Giovanni!!
and even better performance!
OaklandSi - September 25, 2009
LOVE the come hither eyes!
ZigFan31 - September 26, 2009
"come hither....
…I want to either strike you out or walk you"
PL78 - September 26, 2009
gio is cute
OakA'sHoney - September 25, 2009
You can't have all my boys!!!
ZigFan31 - September 26, 2009
ZF is gonna freak!
lynnzgal - September 25, 2009
Dood!
Gio is too sweet to be gangsta. Cmon. He’s trying way too hard in that pic and I can see past it.
Being at the game was awesome! The A’s fans were few and far between. Seeing Gio’s mastery in person was so cool! I didn’t want to jinx it. He was on fire. And what’s with all these Gio lovers coming out of the woodwork? Well…at least I embraced him first. All aboard! Everyone get on the Gio trian! Woo! Woo!
ZigFan31 - September 26, 2009
He's doing his Marky Mark (see below)
Nick - September 26, 2009
That cracked me up. So true.
ZigFan31 - September 26, 2009
Gio's curve was wicked tonight
He was using it effectively in all sorts of counts, to right and left handers, in the strike zone and out. Just awesome.
He did walk one batter, though.
DDroney - September 25, 2009
yes
I corrected that after I looked at the box, my bad
emperor nobody - September 25, 2009
Yay!!!!
I’m completely missing this entire series, so what a delight to get back tonight and see such a happy outcome! Wahoo!!!!!
gigglingone - September 25, 2009
You're working too hard.
Its the first game.
lynnzgal - September 25, 2009
Wait!
You’re going to Oregon, aren’t you?
lynnzgal - September 25, 2009
not working
Today was a “furlough” day for me, and I drove up to Eugene. My sister and I went out tonight, and tomorrow we’ll be going to a football game. Then Sunday I’ll be hanging out with my brother and his family…
gigglingone - September 25, 2009
Pfffft!
Say Hi to my boss. And you can both suck it!
Love you!
lynnzgal - September 25, 2009
Where is your boss sitting?
I’m sooooooooooooooooo excited for the game tomorrow!!! YAY!!!!!
gigglingone - September 25, 2009
Yeah that pic is serious gangstadom
All he needs is a Sean John or Perry Ellis shirt three sizes too large
cuppingmaster - September 25, 2009
Why does Jeff Mathis continue to receive playing time in Major League Baseball?
Can someone explain this concept to me? He’s played in over half the Angels’ games this season. They have Mike Napoli, who is a good hitter. This is just inexplicable.
[I don’t get the “Chances Are” thing, either, BTW. And yes, I’ve tried saying it out loud. Someone explain this to me before I spend three hours trying to figure it out.]
PaulThomas - September 25, 2009
Chance his ArM
I think?
bobnothing - September 25, 2009
i assume defense as well
but the way Napoli hits, you have to wonder what they’re smoking indeed. He’s built like a bouncer from a mean bar.
cuppingmaster - September 25, 2009
sorry, here you are
I HATE TO DO IT TO YA, BUT HERE YOU ARE
emperor nobody - September 25, 2009
Oh, that's way better than my explanation
bobnothing - September 25, 2009
True outcome.
lynnzgal - September 25, 2009
S.F.'s -- no, the world's -- greatest band sang about the man
American Music Club — Johnny Mathis’ Feet
Ray of Lite - September 25, 2009
Scioscia not happy with Napoli's defense
Also ERA is way higher for his pitchers when he catches them
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/napoli-angels-mathis-2582750-going-new
Trainman - September 26, 2009
I wonder how Scoscia feels after watching Mathis throw a couple of balls away to give the A's a run last night
Nick - September 26, 2009
He also threw out Patterson with a perfect throw
I wonder if some of it is that Napoli has never been able to play a full season without injury and perhaps the Angels took the approach that it was better to split the playing time all along rather than run Napoli out there a lot and then have him go down injured.
Nico - September 26, 2009
So that was 2 fancies and 1 good one
Nick - September 26, 2009
Well......
Nico - September 26, 2009
Gio changed the grip on his two-seam and his changeup?
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090925&content_id=7155726&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak
Fascinating. It’d be fantastic if he gets consistent success out of the new grips.
danmerqury - September 25, 2009
Free Travis Buck
A’s seem more than willing to give their players a chance, except him. Patterson is a terrible defensive player at any position, Buck has shown some success at least in previous chances. I think at least Buck has a chance of being an everyday, above avg OF. Patterson will be limited to a part time, utility, multi position player
Asfan4ever723 - September 26, 2009
Damn fine win!
Combined with Timmy L. and the Gnats getting slapped around by the Cubs, it’s shaping up to be one fine weekend.
LeSaboteur - September 26, 2009
Keep it going boys!
I’m loving me some Gio.. Wuertz was awesome, too.
sf drift king - September 26, 2009
Am I the only one who thinks that pic makes Gio look less like a gangster
than like a former-member of the Back Street Boys?
Nick - September 26, 2009
no
Future Ed - September 26, 2009
Oh, God, I just had a terrible thought...
The nickname for the A’s starters:
The New Kids on the Block (Gio in the pic above is playing the role of Marky Mark on the left there)
Nick - September 26, 2009
And thus, an Internet meme was born
bobnothing - September 26, 2009
Of course, if we wanted to go hip and ironic...
we could call them “Non-Threatening Boys Magazine”
Nick - September 26, 2009
Well, the BsB were great, so I can only assume you mean this in a good way
bobnothing - September 26, 2009
props to Sweeney? no? aight.
just keep balling anyway.
sourstuff - September 26, 2009
His BABIP in the last month is over .400
He has been OK all year, now he is getting more doubles and hits are falling in so he looks really good. He was OK last year too. If his defensive numbers are for real, he is a viable option.
As with Davis, I don’t hate him I am just not convinced.
Future Ed - September 26, 2009
His raw numbers this season are about the same as last season
2008: .286/.350/.383
2009: .294/.348/.410
His HR rate is actually down from last year, but his 2B rate is up. I haven’t looked at his LD rates and such, though.
Nick - September 26, 2009
interesting that the Angels outfield pretty much gave him all of right-centerfield
DDroney - September 26, 2009
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